Problem-Based Learning


This course begins in the first semester and extends through both years of the curriculum (33 weeks each year). Students receive cases, which are closely linked to the subject matter. Students spend about one week working independently on the cases, determining the salient features and developing hypotheses pertaining to the mechanisms underlying the selected disease processes. Meeting in-groups of seven to 10, students discuss their findings in the presence of a faculty facilitator in a weekly two-hour session. As a result of the discussion, the students select focused topics (issues) that they believe will help them to understand the disease mechanisms and apply basic science principles to solve the clinical problem. In the next week, students meet with the facilitator to discuss their findings, bring the case to closure and receive the next case. At the end of the course, students should be able to develop hypotheses and a rationale to test the hypotheses to explain normal and/or pathophysiologic mechanisms of disease.

Schedule


Wednesday Mornings 8-10 AM

Segment 1

Orientation
8/22


Case 1
8/29
9/5
9/12
Case 2
9/12
9/19
9/26
Case 3
9/26
10/3
10/10
Case 4
10/10
10/17
10/24
Case 5
10/24
11/14
11/21
Case 6
11/21
11/28
12/5
Exam 1
12/12


Segment 2


Case 1
1/9
1/16
1/23
Case 2
1/23
1/30
2/13
Case 3
2/13
2/20
2/27
Case 4
2/27
3/19
3/26
Case 5
3/26
4/2
4/9
Case 6
4/9
4/16
4/23
Case 7
4/23
4/30

Exam 2
5/14



Links and References


WebSP
Medline
Full-Text Resources